A COMMUNITY group which was set up to give a town centre a boost is celebrating another successful year.

The Bishop Auckland Town Team was launched about two years ago and since then organisers say it has gone from strength-to-strength.

The voluntary group set up to help boost the fortunes of the town, has been working hard to help new traders get up-and-running, put on events and improve the look of the town with things like new Christmas lights

The town has struggled with numerous shop closures, new parking measures and the expansion of the out of town shopping park at St Helen Auckland, but the group believes there is a lot to be positive about.

Clive Auld, chairman of Bishop Auckland Town Team events, said: “It has been a hugely successful year. We’ve just had more than 500 children meet Santa which was a lot of fun.

“We have had a lot of positive feedback about the Christmas lights and we are looking to build on the events we have put on this year.

“We are working plans for the car show again and we are talking to Velo 29 about putting the cycle race on again.

“Overall it has been a really successful year and now we are looking to move on. We still have a good group of volunteers helping to improve the town.

“The response we are getting is really positive and long may it continue.”

• The next public meeting of the Bishop Auckland Town Team will take place in the Four Clocks Centre, on Newgate Street, on Thursday, January 15, at 6pm.